Shower curtain



Dec. 14, 1965 1'. EFRON ETAL. 3,222,689

SHOWER CURTAIN Filed Nov. 14, 1963 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /02 /0/ 50 Hmm ELF, /9

gi 47 a j? f`, A $1 .A am .1 97 i g si@ A A Q INVENTORS.

THEODORE EFROA/ @il @Mgg- Dec. 14, 1965 1'. EFRoN ETAL SHOWER CURTAIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 14. 1965 INVENTORS. THE ODO/QE EFRO/V WALTER F HESS MAY/VARD J SE/DMO/V United States Patent O 3,222,689 SHWER CURTAIN Theodore Efron, Chicago, Walter F. Hess, Deerfield, and

Maynard I. Seidman, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Theodore Efron Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 323,653 6 Claims. (CL4-149) This invention relates to a shower curtain and a bath enclosure structure. More particularly, the invention is directed to a vertically slidable curtain adapted to roll upwardly onto a storage rod when not in use and to close the open side of a bath tub or a shower stall enclosure when it is desired to use the bathing or showering facilities.

Many types of shower curtains and bath tub enclosures are known in the prior art. Not only have these devices taken numerous and varied physical forms and structural arrangements, but, in addition, many different manufacturing materials, fabrication techniques, and installation procedures have been used. Nevertheless, no completely satisfactory shower stall or bath enclosure has heretofore been produced. In each, one or more undesirable or objectionable features may be recognized, and no closure structure has proven completely satisfactory for the purpose intended. In the following specification the term bath enclosure, as used, includes both shower bath and bath tub enclosures.

One bath enclosure widely used as a bathing facility is of the type which is generally disposed along the forward edge of the front wall of a tub. Such an enclosure is either of a slidable two-door (or three-door) arrangement or consists of a folding door arrangement. Because of their physical disposition, these doors, in open or collapsed position, restrict the entranceway to the tub when the user seeks to gain access to the bathing facilities, and limit the size of the usable opening. An additional disadvantage of such slidably mounted, collapsible, and pivotally mounted structures is that the vertically extending doors are normally mounted between horizontal trackways or rails one of which is permanently affixed to the top outer portion or sill of the bath tub wall. This permanently mounted track has recesses or grooves which are kept clean and clear only with diiiiculty. The tracks themselves are uncomfortable to sit upon or to bear or press against as may be required when an adult supervises or assists in the bathing of smaller children. In addition, the cost of sliding doors and their'associated hardware is relatively high, and in many types of applications this fact discourages their use.

Another type of prior art bath enclosure utilizes a vertically slidable rigid or semi-rigid curtain which when not in use to close the entranceway to the shower bath installation, is moved to an overhead roof-like arcuate position where it defines a canopy bridging the bath tub. Such shower curtains are ordinarily frictionally supported in trackways, an arrangement which gives rise to related mechanical problems. Moreover, the curtain structure is continuously exposed and therefore tends to become dust laden, especially since a major portion of its area is ordinarily substantially horizontally disposed. Excessive headroom is often required to facilitate storage positioning, and in its stored or non-use position the curtain is always visible and presents a distracting if not an aesthetically objectionable appearance. In modern apartments and home constructions there is a trend toward lower ceiling heights, and this tendency prevents the use of overhead canopy storage arrangements.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a bath enclosure and shower curtain structure which ob- 3,222,689 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 ice viates the objectionable features of prior art devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible shower curtain supported from a spring-tensioned or selfwinding roller. p

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shower curtain and bath enclosure assembly which permits compact storage of the closure member and which provides full access to the tub area at all times.

A related object of the invention is to provide a compact out-of-sight storage facility for the flexible retractible and extensible curtain of the invention.

Another important object is to provide an inexpensive, easily assembled device which has an attractive appearance in both open and closed positions and which may be readily installed and assembled by a user, in existing homes, without necessitating extensive conversions.

Additional objects and aims of the invention include the following:

To provide a bath enclosure assembly which is simple in structure and which automatically and readily adapts to lit a plurality of spans or openings having differentl widths; to provide a bath and shower enclosure curtain which is unbreakable, shatterproof, light in weight, and safe in handling and in operation; to provide a bath enclosure assembly including a flexible, one-piece, relatively smooth-surfaced roll-up curtain and a water-stripping bar for wiping the curtain free of excess moisture as the curtain recoils to its storage position; to provide a shower curtain which is easily installed and which may be readily removed and replaced at will to create any desired decorator effects; to provide a bath enclosure assembly which automatically compensates for and adapts to out-ofsquare shower bath and bath tub openings; and to provide a bath enclosure which may be installed in lowceiling rooms or rooms having limited headroom.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of thev following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: y

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the bath enclosure or shower curtain assembly embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the curtain wall structure of the invention as Viewed from inside the enclosure;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE `1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-*4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View showing another form of the header assembly of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of still another form of the header assembly of the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is an isometric View, partly cut away and partly in section, of the header assembly and curtain of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES l through 4, for purposes of disclosure, the the shower curtain or shower door of the invention is shown embodied `as .a bath enclosure 10 having a pair of opposed vertically disposed facing trackways or channel members 11 and 12 secured respectively to side walls 13 and 14 in spaced but corresponding relationship. Each of the trackways is U-Shaped or V-shaped (See FIGURE 4) in cross-section and has side walls 19 and 23 and a base or rear wall 15 which, in a preferred arrangement, includes an integral lateral flange 16 adapted to bear against the side walls 13 and 14 of the enclosure to impart stability and to preclude movement or rotation of the trackways 11 and 12 about their vertical or principal axes. ri`he trackways 11 and 12 are secured at their bases 15 and/or flanges 16 to respective side walls 13 and 14 by means of screws 17, or toggle bolts or other mechanical' means extending through the bases and into the side walls 13 and 14. Alternatively, or concurrently, a mastic or adhesive composition 18 may be relied upon to bond the trackways 11 and 12 to the side walls 13 and 14. An important advantage of the mastic technique is that the composition 18 serves not only as a mechanical bond but also as a caulking bead or seal between the contacting structural elements.

While the precise shape of the channels 20 and 21 defined by the channel members 11 and 12 is not critical, it is important that the channels be relatively deep, laterally, so that the enclosure itself will be effective for use in installations having some appreciable variations in the width of the original access opening. The lateral depth of the channels 20 and 21 also obviates problems which might otherwise be posed by out-of-parallel side wall structures, all as will be more fully understood as this description proceeds.

The trackways or channel members 11 and 12 may be fabricated of any preferred structural material. Corrosion resistant steel or aluminum may be used, as well asalloys of aluminum and of magnesium. In a preferred manufacturing procedure, the trackways are extruded as an integral structure and then cut to the desired length. It is evident that, if preferred, the channel members or trackways may be formed of plastic compositions in accordance with well known commercial techniques.

As shown schematically in FIGURES 1 and 2, at their lower ends 22 and 23 the trackways 11 and 12 abut the top or sill 24 of the front wall 25 of a tub or of a shower stall base. At their upper ends 28 and 29, the trackways 11 and 12 are surmounted or bridged by a header assembly 31 which extends laterally between the sidewalls 13 and 14 which bound the access opening or entranceway 32 into the bathing enclosure or shower stall 1t). The header assembly 31 may be held in place in any preferred manner. For example, it may be attached to and supported upon the trackways 11 and 12. Alternatively, and in a preferred arrangement, the header assembly 31 is fastened in place by attachment to the side walls 13 and 14 of the bath enclosure 10. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the header assembly 31 includes a generally U-shaped, horizontally extending channel 34 defining a top wall 35 and side walls. 36 and 37 and having an opening 38 extending along the length and at the bottom. The U- shaped channel or housing 34 is supported at either end by brackets 41 and 42 into which the ends 43 and 44 of the channel 34 are received. The opposed brackets 41 and 42 are essentially mirror 1mages of each other, each constituting vertical end walls 45 and 46 adapted for attachment to the side walls 13 and 14 or jams at either side of the bathing enclosure 10. Integral with each of the respective end Walls 45 and 46 of the opposed brackets 41 and 42 are spaced front and rear walls 47 and 48 (and 49 and 50) extending from front and rear vertical edges of the end walls 45 and 46, inwardly of the end walls and perpendicular thereto. The brackets allow for variation in the width of the bath enclosure opening. Each of the brackets 41 and 42 includes a pair of flanges or inwardly extending shoulders 55 and 56 which are integral with the over-all bracket structure and which extend inwardly of the front and rear walls 47 and 48 (and 49 and S0) of the brackets 41 and 42 to provide bearing surfaces or supports 59 and 60 upon which the U-shaped channel or housing 34 rests. The header assembly 31 comprises the support means and the housing for a shower curtain assembly 65 which includes a self-winding or pretensioned roller 66, similar in construction to the wellknown common window shade, and a flexible shower curtain 67 fastened at its top edge to the roller 66 along the length thereof. The roller 66, itself, is supported within the open bottom U-sha-ped channel 34 by means of keyed brackets or clamps 68 fastened to an inner top or wall surface of the U-shaped channel, adjacent the ends of the channel, In a preferred arrangement, and as indicated schematically in FIGURE 3, the roller supports 68 are attached to the underside 71 of the top wall 35 of the channel 34. (See FIGURE 7.)

The shower curtain 67 rolls onto and depends from the roller 66 and is retractable and extensible in the usual manner of curtains of this type, such as window shades, which are well-known in related arts. The roller 66 is of the self-winding pre-tensioned type, also as is well-known in the art. The shower curtain 67 may be made of any suitable material which is not subject to the deleterious effects of water, soap, detergents, mildew, etc. Semitransparent or translucent plastics including such materials as the polyethylenes and polypropylenes, the polyvinyls, plastic-impregnated or plastic-coated fabrics as well as many other types of structural sheet material of the flexible type nd utility in the practice of the invention. The curtain may be plain in appearance, or may be textured. Any preferred design may be stencilled or otherwise imprinted upon the curtain and any preferred color or color combination may be chosen. The shower curtain 67 extends vertically through the opening 38 of the U-shapecl channel 34 of the header assembly 31. Extending from side to side across substantially the entire width of the access opening or entranceway 32 of the bath enclosure, the side edges 73 and 74 of the curtain 67 project into the U-shaped or V-shaped channels 20 and 21 of the trackways 11 and 12 and are slidably received therein. As indicated schematically in FIGURE 4, and as previously pointed out, the lateral depth of the channels 2) and 21 is sufficient to permit lateral positioning or adjustment of the curtain assembly and also to prevent the escape of water from within the bathing enclosure even when the width of that enclosure (and the related lateral separation of the channel members 11 and 12) is somewhat greater than the usual dimension.

The water retaining curtain 67 is fastened at and along its lower edge 75 to a combination handle, drip-strip and drainage guide 76 as shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the combination handle drip-strip and guide 76 is substantially L-shaped in crosssection and includes a vertical wall portion 77, which is fastened to the curtain 67 and a base portion 78 which extends across the entire width from side wall 13 to side wall 14 of the enclosure. As indicated in FIGURE 3, the base 78 is preferably sloped downwardly of the horizontal so that it functions as both a drainage surface and as a baffle to prevent splashing onto the floor outside of the enclosure and to prevent water spray and Water draining down the inner surface of the curtain from escaping to the outside of the bath enclosure. Extending as it does inwardly of the curtain 67 into the bathing chamber, the laterally extending base 78 of the combination handle, drip-strip and guide, serves as a convenient means by which the curtain is elevated to retract into its storage position. In a preferred arrangement, and as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, lateral extensions 79 and 80 of the vertical wall portion 77 of the combination handle, drip-strip and guide, extend into corresponding trackway or channel members 11 and 12 at either side of the entranceway 32 of the bathing enclosure 10 to ride within the channels 20 and 21, serving as guides to preclude the inadvertent escape of the side edges 73 and 74 of the curtain 67 from the channels 20 and 21.

The lateral extensions 79 and 80 of the vertical wall portion 77 of the combination handle drip-strip and guide 76 which extend into the trackways, or channel members 11 and 12 are provided on either side surface with bearing elements or buttons 81 of nylon or Teflon or any other suitable composition having the requisite lubricity to eliminate friction and noise as the gudes 79 and 80 travel in the channels 20 and 21. A horizontal, laterally extending bead 82 integrally formed at the lower edge of the vertical wall portion 77 provides convenient handle means by which the curtain 67 may be moved by one who is outside of the bath enclosure. The combination handle, drip-strip and guide 76 may be fastened to the bottom of the curtain 67 by any suitable preferred means.

In operating the shower during use of the bathing enclosure, water necessarily splashes against or flows onto the inside surface of the curtain 67. Due to surface characteristics of the curtain itself and also because of surface tension phenomena, after the flow of water from the shower head has been stopped, the water drains from the surface of the curtain very slowly and incompletely, and an appreciable amount of water remains yon the curtain for an extended period of time. If the curtain 67 were caused to travel upwardly and to retract onto the roller 66 while the curtain is water laden, the water would interfere with the proper coiling of the curtain onto the roller. Moreover, as the curtain 67 is coiled upon the roller 66, appreciable quantities of water would collect between the roller and its point of tangency with the depending curtain and this water would drip down or drain to escape to the outside of the bathing enclosure. In accordance with the practice of the present invention the above-described problem has been obviated by providing a longitudinally extending wiper or squeegee 83 which bears against the bath enclosure side 84 of the curtain 67 to wipe or strip excess water from the surface of the curtain as the curtain is retracted onto the storage roller 66 supported within the header assembly 31. As indicated schematically in FIGURES 3, and 6, the squeegee or wiper 83 is grippingly retained at the end of a flange 85 extending inwardly of and integral with the far wall of the U-shaped channel 34, as viewed from outside of the bath enclosure. In the preferred arrangement illustrated, the squeegee or wiper 83 is of a plastic, rubber, fabric, wood or nylon pile, or other suitable rnaterial and is firmly held in an elongated groove 36, substantially T-shaped in cross-section to bear against the inner surface of the shower curtain 67 in stressed, wiping relation therewith.

As shown schematically in FIGURES 3 and 6, the wall 36 of the channel 34 opposite from that from which the squeegee extends is provided with an inwardly extending flange 88 terminating in a blunt or rounded end 89 which defines the other surface of the slot or opening 30 through which the shower curtain 67 travels. In another preferred arrangement, as shown in FIGURE 5, the flange 91 extending inwardly of the wall 92 of the channel 34 is integrally formed to include at its end an elongated groove 93 al-so adapted to hold a squeegee or wiper, or guide 94 which bears against and wipes the outer surface of the curtain 67. A second hinge may be provided to facilitate bringing the wiper 94 to bear against the curtain.

While gravitational and frictional forces .may be relied upon to retain the U-shaped channel 34 of the header assembly 31 firmly positioned within the supporting end ybrackets 41 and 42, knurled thumbscrews 96 and 97 threaded into the walls 47 and 49 (and 48 and 50) of the brackets 41 and 42 bear against the corresponding walls 36 and 37 of the U-shaped channel 34 to provide a rigid stabilized structure.

In FIGURE 3 there is shown a somewhat modified and a preferred header assembly 31. The modification consists in providing a Ueshaped channel or housing which is not extruded or otherwise formed as an integral unit but which consists of two separate elements joined one to the other by means of a longitudinal hinge 101 extending along the entire axial length of the channel structure. One of the elements of the two-piece Ushaped channel is a substantially L-shaped channel 100 defining the top wall 104 and a depending flange 105 of the channel. Integrally formed with and axially disposed along the free longitudinal edge of the flange 105 of the channel 100 is a female hinge element 103 comprising a cylindrically shaped slotted tube. The second element of the U-shaped channel comprises an L-shaped channel having a male hinge element 109 integrally formed therewith and extending along the longitudinal edge of the vertically disposed arm 111 of the channel. The male 109 and the female 103 hinge elements are connected to one another in a pivoted interftting relation as shown in FIGURES 3 and \5 such that the joined first and second channel elements articulate for relative angular or pivotal movement with respect to one another about a common axis passing through the interfitted elements 108 and 109. The shorter arm or horizontally extending base 113 of the second element carries the squeegee or wiper 83 as previously described, and thu-mbscrews 102 and 103 provide lateral adjustment to maintain the wiper 83 pressed against the curtain 67 to strip water from the surface thereof as the curtain retracts into the header assembly 31. The opening 114 of the female element 108 i-s canted slightly to one side, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, to provide sufficient relative bending movement of the second element of the two-piece channel or housing to facilitate ready insertion therein and removal of the curtain-carrying rod or roller 66 therefrom upon lifting the housing from the supporting brackets 41 and 42. The arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 5 includes a second hinge 115 which is similar to the opposing hinge 101. While the articulated hinged wall 111 depicted in FIGURES 3 and 5 constitutes a preferred structure for gaining access into the interior of the header assembly 31, as shown in FIGURE 6, the channel or housing 34 rmay be extruded as an integral unit, it being necessary only to allow sufiicient room within the housing so that the roller 66 may be removed from its supporting brackets 60. (See FIGURE 6.)

It is obvious that, if preferred, the hinge assembly 101 may be formed on the opposite wall of the U-shaped channel.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a bath enclosure curtain which is simple in construction, and rugged and dependable in operation. The structure described is readily adaptable to bath enclosures having different sizes of entranceway openings and provides full access while avoiding sill tracks or guides. When not in use, the curtain is stored in an out-of-sight, overhead position.

While disclosures of preferred embodiments of the invention and preferred methods for fabricating the structural components of the invention have been provided, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications, changes and variations can be made without departing from the essential spirit of the underlying principles of the invention. It is, therefore, desired by the following claims to include within the scope of the invention all such variations and modifications by which substantially the result of this invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a shower bath installation a pair of facing vertical trackways secured in spaced relation to opposed end walls of said bath installations;

a pair of sup-port brackets fastened to said opposed walls adjacent upper ends of said trackways;

a header assembly bridging said trackways and horizontally disposed therebtween to define a housing for a curtain assembly, said header assembly being supported at either end by said brackets;

said header assembly defining a housing and a support for a curtain assembly and comprising a channel having the shape of an inverted L in cross-section and extending laterally between end walls of said bath installation to define a top wall and a back wall of said housing;

a first hinge member integrally formed with and depending from a forward marginal edge of Asaid top wall of said channel;

an elongated panel longitudinally coextensive with said forward marginal edge of said top wall of said channel and with said first hinge member and vertically disposed to define a front wall of said housing, a second hinge member integrally formed with and extending upwardly of a top edge of said panel,

said first and said second hinge members comprising mating means joining `said front wall of said housing to said top wall of said housing to depend therefrom for swinging articulated movement with respect to said top wall to constitute a door for access into said housing;

a rearwardly and inwardly extending horizontal flange integral with Said door and extending along the lower longitudinal edge thereof, said flange defining at its free end an axial longitudinally extending elongated slot;

a wiper strip carried in said slot and extending rearwardly therefrom and laterally therealong to bear in stressed relation against a facing surface of a curtain supported within and depending from said housing;

a one-piece, flexible, retractible, and extensible curtain slidable vertically in said trackways to open and close an opening therebetween;

a self-winding roller mounted within said header assembly and supporting said curtain,

said curtain being slidably positionable in a drawn position to extend in a vertical plane with side edges within :said trackways to block said opening forming an entranceway to said shower bath installation, said curtain terminating at its lower edge at a forward sill of said shower bath installation, and said curtain being retractible to wind onto said roller for storage within said header assembly to expose said entranceway and to provide access therethrough.

2. In combination with a shower bath installation a pair of facing vertical trackways secured in spaced relation to opposed end walls of said bath installation;

a pair of support brackets fastened to said opposed walls adjacent upper ends of said trackways;

a header assembly bridging said trackways and horizontally disposed therebetween to dene a housing for a curtain assembly, said header assembly being supported at either end by said brackets;

said header assembly defining a storage area for a curtain when the shower bath installation is not in use and comprising first and second generally L- shaped channels, the first channel formed with an integral longitudinally extending solid bead along a longitudinal edge and the second channel being formed with an integral longitudinally extending hollow socket portion along a corresponding edge thereof, the socket portion of said second channel receiving the beaded edge of said first channel in snug ttting, articulated, hinged relation to render one of said L-shaped channels a door permitting access into said storage area for insertion and removal of said curtain therefrom;

a one-piece, flexible, retractible, and extensible curtain slidable vertically in said trackways to open and close an opening therebetween;

a self-winding roller mounted within said header assembly and supporting said curtain,

said curtain being slidably positionable in a drawn position to extend in a vertical plane with side edges within said trackways to block said opening forming an entranceway to said shower bath installation, said curtain terminating at its lower edge at a forward sill of said shower bath installation, and said curtain being retractible to wind onto said roller for storage within said header assembly to expose said entranceway and to provide access therethrough.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said door defined by said one of said L-shaped channels includes at a free longitudinally extending end thereof a coextensive elongated slot; and

a wiper strip carried in said slot and disposed to bear in stressing relation against a facing surface of said curtain supported on said roller and slidable in said trackways.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising a laterally extending flange fastened to and depending from a lower edge of said flexible curtain,

said flange being substantially L-shaped in cross-section and contacting an upper edge of said forward sill of said shower bath installation to deflect water inwardly of said installation to obviate leakage and escape of water therefrom when said curtain is extended to block said entranceway to said shower bath installation.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 4 and further comprising guide arms integral with and extending laterally of said L-shaped flange to ride within said vertical trackways to retain lateral edges of said curtain within said trackways.

6. The structure of claim 5 and further comprising bearing means on opposed front and rear vertical surfaces of said guide arms riding within said vertical trackways.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 580,697 4/1897 Kraemer. 2,481,397 9/1949 Dalton 4 149 2,776,439 1/1957 Randinaui 4 149 2,840,827 7/1958 Caivano 4 149 2,914,775 12/1959 Kauffman 4-149 FOREIGN PATENTS 385,108 2/1908 France.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner. 

2. IN COMBINATION WITH A SHOWER BATH INSTALLATION A PAIR OF FACING VERTICAL TRACKWAYS SECURED IN SPACED RELATION TO OPPOSED END WALLS OF SAID BATH INSTALLATION; A PAIR OF SUPPORT BRACKETS FASTENED TO SAID OPPOSED WALLS ADJACENT UPPER ENDS OF SAID TRACKWAYS; A HEADER ASSEMBLY BRIDGING SAID TRACKWAYS AND HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED THEREBETWEEN TO DEFINE A HOUSING FOR A CURTAIN ASSEMBLY, SAID HEADER ASSEMBLY BEING SUPPORTED AT EITHER END BY SAID BRACKETS; SAID HEADER ASSEMBLY DEFINING A STORAGE AREA FOR A CURTAIN WHEN THE SHOWER BATH INSTALLATION IS NOT IN USE AND COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND GENERALLY LSHAPED CHANNELS, THE FIRST CHANNEL FORMED WITH AN INTEGRAL LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SOLID BEAD ALONG A LONGITUDINAL EDGE AND THE SECOND CHANNEL BEING FORMED WITH AN INTEGRAL LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING HOLLOW SOCKET PORTION ALONG A CORRESPONDING EDGE THEREOF, THE SOCKET PORTION OF SAID SECOND CHANNEL RECEIVING THE BEADED EDGE OF SAID FIRST CHANNEL IN SNUG FITTING, ARTICULATED, HINGED RELATION TO RENDER ONE OF SAID L-SHAPED CHANNELS A DOOR PERMITTING ACCESS INTO SAID STORAGE AREA FOR INSERTION AND REMOVAL OF SAID CURTAIN THEREFROM; A ONE-PIECE, FLEXIBLE, RETRACTIBLE, AND EXTENSIBLE CURTAIN SLIDABLE VERTICALLY IN SAID TRACKWAYS TO OPEN AND CLOSE AN OPENING THEREBETWEEN; A SELF-WINDING ROLLER MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HEADER ASSEMBLY AND SUPPORTING SAID CURTAIN, SAID CURTAIN BEING SLIDABLY POSITIONABLE IN A DRAWN POSITION TO EXTEND IN A VERTICAL PLANE WITH SIDE EDGES WITHIN SAID TRACKWAYS TO BLOCK SAID OPENING FORMING AN ENTRANCEWAY TO SAID SHOWER BATH INSTALLATION, SAID CURTAIN TERMINATING AT ITS LOWER EDGE AT A FORWARD SILL OF SAID SHOWER BATH INSTALLATION, AND SAID CURTAIN BEING RETRACTIBLE TO WIND ONTO SAID ROLLER FOR STORAGE WITHIN SAID HEADER ASSEMBLY TO EXPOSE SAID ENTRANCEWAY AND TO PROVIDE ACCESS THERETHROUGH. 